Avi Lewis stands by past activism as he's criticized for 'politics of subtraction'
CBC
In the closing days of the NDP leadership race, Avi Lewis's past activism has resurfaced. But the front-runner's campaign is standing by his past work and a decade-old vision that's been both criticized within the New Democrats' ranks and weaponized by their opponents.
Lewis's campaign is deflecting criticism after an old video was shared on social media this week of the leadership hopeful and his wife seemingly poking fun at the Alberta NDP.
Critics of Lewis argue he helped contribute to the demise of Rachel Notley's government when he crashed the 2016 federal New Democrat convention with a controversial policy paper: the Leap Manifesto.
Lewis's campaign spokesperson Donya Ziaee accuses other campaigns of "manufacturing division" and "dredging up old debates."
"This political moment is an opportunity for the NDP to seize the mantle of bold climate leadership," she wrote in a statement.
Lewis declined an interview request for this story.
Although Lewis's dad and grandfather were provincial and federal NDP leaders, he burst on to the New Democrat political scene when he urged the party to adopt the Leap Manifesto.
The manifesto had been drafted the year before by a group that included environmentalists, artists and leaders within Indigenous rights, feminist and labour movements.
The manifesto's central view was that the world is in a climate crisis and burning fossil fuels is making it worse. It urged a complete transition away from fossil fuels and an adoption of renewable power sources.
"There is no longer an excuse for building new infrastructure projects that lock us into increased extraction decades into the future," the document stated.
It also called for expanding public transit, high-speed rail and social programs like national child care — issues now embraced by the federal Liberals.
The manifesto was supported by some within the NDP but never officially adopted by the party.
Lewis has stood behind that vision during this leadership race.
Still, those policies are being used by Lewis's opponents to encourage the NDP membership not to vote for him.
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